Cessna 310C accident near Ray, Michigan, June 11, 2005
On June 11, 2005 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 310C, registered N311V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ray, Michigan (Ray Community Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reasons and the flightcrew's failure to maintain aircraft control following the loss of power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2005 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ray, Michigan · Ray Community Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310C · all 310Cs on the register
- Registration
- N311V · no longer on the register · serial 35933
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin-engine airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground shortly after takeoff. There was a postimpact fire. The left seat pilot had just purchased the airplane. He did not possess a rating for multiengine airplanes. The right seat pilot was a certified flight instructor (CFI) and had a rating for multi-engine airplanes. He listed 62.5 hours total multi-engine experience, 32 hours experience as a multi-engine instructor, and 20.3 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The CFI reported that shortly after takeoff, the left wing "dipped." He reported that he had no recollection of the accident sequence after that point. Both pilots listed "left engine failure" in the malfunction portion of their reports. Postaccident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any anomalies that could be determined to have existed prior to the impact.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 845 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 0 in the last 30 days; 795 as pilot in command; 528 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 4,830 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57D Ray MI at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Nauvoo IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from MTC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.